New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-27
CLOSING HOURS OF THE SENATE.
THE CLOCK STOPPED BY GENERAL JONES.


THE BILL FoRDIDDING THE USE OF MACHINERY IN
STATE PRISONS KILLED - OTHER MEASURES
RUSHED THROUGH.
ALBANY, May 26-The Senate did not adjourn
in a blaze of glory to-day The confusion in the
closing hours was So great TO call out vigorous
protests from Senator'S, and general denuncaton OF
Lieutenant Governor Jones, who was responsible Tor
the disorder Old legislators such az senators f1tts'
Sloan and DAILY dee Jared that the transaction OF ous
moss under suoh circu INSTANCES disgraceful But
Mr. Jones seemed determined to add TO the CONFUSION
and to conduct business without regard TO rules OF
even common decency. The trouble arose from DIS
rnling early in the session that al rules were sus-
pended on the closing day. Senator Pitts remarked
that the Assembly had custom OF that KIND put IL
did not preyal in the Senate. and he inquired OF the
chairman bis authority for such ruling. Mr.. Jones
declined to take any notice OF this respectful inquiry
1t was renewed by Mr. Fassett and others but the
Lieuten Governor went right ahead and ruled to
suit himself seeking to aid the Democrats In thelr
efforts to get through their bills and causing the
greatest confusion.
At hall past IL o'clock the clook was stopped by the
niger on the order, II was
said of the Lieutenant Governor who was trying TO
aid the passage of bill to abolish the use OF machln
ery in the State prisons, and to add million dollars
TO the State taxes At lstle before twelve, COM
rnittee OF the Assembly arrived TO announce that
bod, ready 10 adjourn. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
declined TO recognize the committee and kept stand
ing In the aisle for fifteen minutes After was recog
nzed and a committee OF the Senate returned from the
Governor with the information that no had no furthef
communication to make, the LieutenantGovernor
continued to order the clerk to proceed with the
reading OF bills although 1t was long after IL the
hour. OF final adjournment, and the Assembly had
adjourned Mr. FassetJ and Mr.. Pitts vehementiy
and re ,estedly in open session called the presiding
officers attention to the fact that 1t was long past the
hour OF final adjournment and That all legsiahon
was illegal. He declined to recognize them, and
finally MIR. Pitts moved that the Senate adjourn,
which motion put and carried. The Senate then
adjourned u.a ..ror.u
speech of which copies had been furnished the report
ers but he tailed deliver 1t and 1t was recalled III
was some time after the adjournment before the Sena-
tors got through their vigorous denuneaton OF the
acknowledgements extraordinary condnct -.
The Democratic Senators under the leaderahip Of
Mr.. Murphy. had formed purposet to force through
the Sunday liquor bill tor which vigorous LOBBY
at work on the floor OF the Senate ana alsS 10
try TO get vote pending nominal ons. Iheir
particular anxiety was to set General Sickes con
frmed. so as to get the $4,000 Id salaries which
would follow that a9t With these enos ID view mp
Murphy moved to limit speeches to half a minute.
which was adopted. The passage OF bills thed went
forward with expedition. MI BIrnss Assembly
bill to allow the gas companies to charge % Tor gas
In the annexed district of New York. and In the
late town OF NewLots, now part OF Brooklyn. was
called up by Senator Plunkitt who rushed about the
chamber to get votes foi it. He secured eighteen,
among whom " Cuen and Murphy, anc the bill
passed. Mr. Plunsitts constituents who VIII be
charged So instead of 81 20 thousand for gas
hereafter can thank him for the additional tax MI
Plunkitt then brought forward his auc,ent Tweed
claim of John A. Stemmiers against inc oity' ~
received onl, eleven votes and was killed.
At this time message received from the Gov
ernor in regard TO the pending nominations 1t
urged the Senate to at them that the GosernOr
might got a chance to send In some more Mr..
Murphy moved for an executive sesaiol Mr. Fassett
protested that not in order but the Lieutenant
Governor ruled that II In order as there are no
rules on the last day." The motion failed. however,
and the Senate went on with the passage OF bills
Mr. Shea's bill to permit the erection OF wooden
buildings ID the annexed district was sent to the
Governor.
Mr.. Low moved to 20 into Committee OF the Whole
on the Graham bill iorbidding the use OF machinery
in State prisons and to allow Shs<i1s of all counties
excepting New-York aud Kings to have control OF
prisoners who county charge Mr.. Low wanted
the bill ordered to a third rea,line and Mr. Murphy
tried TO assist him IN sitting debate on IT. ME-
Fassett made a struggle against the Dill which mad
the effect OF defeating it, He said that 1t was crude
which would put the State prisons
and other institutions in the hands OF county sher1s
and would cost the people iron Sl,OUOOOO 10
81 5000 year. He moved to exempt from its
provisions State Ins ane asylums Houses OF he'uge,
and County penitentiaries. He warned the Senate
against rushing through In the closing hours sucn
a dangerous measure Mr.. Fassetts aneudment
was adopted with the exception that county
penitentiaries were stricken out Seeing that ne
the Lieutenant Governor had the clock stopped. Mr.
Fassett called bis attention to the matter bat the Lieu
refused to order the clock to be started
again. Mr.. Pitts, Mr.. Mcmillan and others tried 10
have their counties excepted from the bill but tailed
The bill; was finally ordered to third reading when
Mr. Fassstt offered the following substitute:
Strike out all the title OF the bill and the ensctng
clause and substitute the following;
warens Of the several state Prisons IN the state are
hereby authorized and ree,ea Keep o
upon hand labor without the use OF machinery propelled ny
steam or water or other artificial OF mechanical power
This was lost and the bill passed but too late to
reach the Assembly. For this result Mr.. Fassett Is
entitled to the credit.